Conveyor tables for glass washing machines and the like



. l I Qu April 1957 w. H. BARRIE 2,788,884

CONVEYOR TABLES FOR GLASS WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed March 30,1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [HIP April 16, 1957 w. H. BARRIE CONVEYOR TABLESFOR GLASS WASHING MACHINES AND THE. LIKE Filed March 30, 1955 3Sheets-Sheet 2 am nrry H Y n April 16, 1957 w. H. 2,788,884

CONVEYOR TABLES FOR GLASS WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed March 31955 BARRIE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 l an arr'ia a A 2,788,884 Patented AP 1957.

CONVEYOR TABLES FOR GLASS WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE William H.Barrie, St. Vital, Manitoba, Canada Application March 30, 1953, SerialNo. 345,469

1 Claim. Cl. 198-219) My invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in the conveyor type of glass washing machines and moreparticularly in the means by which the glasses are caused to traversethe machine through the washing baths, the principal object of myinvention being to provide a devicev of the character herewithindescribed which prevents the glasses from being chipped or broken duringtheir passage through the machine. Y.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which, when the machine is loaded to capacity,automatically slips under the glasses without shattering or topplingsame.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which insures a uniform rate of speed fortheglasses passing through the glass washing section of the machine.

. Yet another object of my invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described which is simple to dismantle for cleaningpurposes.

A still further object of my invention is to provide adevice of thecharacter herewithin described which is relatively simple inconstruction, economical in operation'and otherwise Well suited to thepurpose for which it is designed.

"With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects andadvantages as willv become apparent to those skilled in the art to whichthis invention relates as this specification proceeds, my inventionconsists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all asherematter more particularly described, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings in which: v

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete machine sectioned in partto show the interior thereof.

Figure 2 is a partial side elevation of the forward end of the machine,but on an elevation on the opposite side of that shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of theglass conveyor assembly.

Figure 4 is a vertical section through the machine looking from one endthereof. Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged'perspective view of half ofthe glass carrying assembly; Figure 6 is a fragmentary section throughthe view shown on Figure 3 and showing the movable element of theconveyor.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but taken through and showing thefixed element of the conveyor section.

'Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing the movable elementin the uppermost position in -con trast to Figure/6 .whichshows same inthe lower position. 'v Figure 9 is a side elevation of Figure 6. I Inthe drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding partsin the difierent-figures.

Conventional glass washing machines normally includemeans whereby theglasses are passed progressively through the washing element and arethen deposited at the-other end ofthe machine ready" for-'use. The nor-2 a chains or links or belts of some type and, as it is usual to passtheglasses through the machine in the inverted position, it is quite commonfor the belt or conveyor to catch the lips of the glasses withsubsequent cracking or breaking to the glasses occurring.

This is particularly prevalent when the machine is loaded to capacity sothat glasses can no longer pass through the machine, thus causing theconveyor to slip. Under these conditions it is quite common for aprojecting portion of the conveyor to catch the edge of the glass andcrack same.

I have overcome these disadvantages by providing a conveyor which movesthe glasses through the machine in a series of small steps and whichmakes it impossible, even although the machine is loaded to capacity,for the edges of the glasses to be caught and broken by projectingportions of the conveyor. V

Proceeding now to describe my invention in detail, it will be seen uponreference to the accompanying drawings that I have shown in Figure 1 aside elevation of a glass washing machine consisting of a generalframework 1 upon which is the conveyor table assembly collectivelydesignated 2 and the glass washing unit 3. This glass washing unitconsists of a plurality of spray heads 4 adapted to spray upon theoutsides of the glasses pass ing therethrough, and further spray heads 5adapted to spray upwardly into the interior of the glasses passingtherethrough.

Within the framework 1 is a source of power in the form or" an electricmotor 6 which, interalia, drives a pumping unit 7 and supplies clearWater and a cleansing solution to the spray heads as desired by means ofthe plurality of conduits 8 and valves 9 shown in this particular view,but as the general principles of this portion of the invention arerelatively conventional, no further discussion of same is deemednecessary, except to say that glasses are loaded upon the conveyor 2 atthe left hand or rear end 10 thereof, are passed slowly through thespraying or cleansing hood or unit 3, where they are subjected to theaforementioned spraying treatment, the glasses then passing to the righthand or forward end 11 of the conveyor assembly, ready for use whenrequired. Y Y

Reference should now be made to Figures 3 to 9 inclusive which show thedetails of the conveying assembly which I have collectively designatedby the reference character 2. This assembly comprises two maincomponents, a fixed component collectively designated 12 and a movablecomponent collectively designated 13. -The fixed component 12 includes apair of side plates 14 running the length of the machine and secured tothe sup-' porting framework 1, these two members being one upon eachside of the machine and in spaced and-parallel rela tionship one withthe other.

Strips 15 are secured to these plates 14 and extend.

horizontally therefrom inwardly, they in turn supporting right-angledchannels 16 which run the full length of the conveyor system. Archedbrackets 17 in the form of an inverted U are secured to the horizontalflange 18 of the angles 16 in spaced relationship along the lengththereof, it being understoodthat,correspondingrbrackets extend from theopposite angles so that they are-in pairs along the length of themachine, one upononeside' and one upon the other, 1

Spanning the width of the machine as illustrated in Figure 4, is a setof transverse slotted bars 19, thesebars being secured to the archedbrackets 17 andext entiing at right angles from the angle channels 16/Open-- ended slots 20 are formed within the-upper edge-ZI 'of thesebars, and a plurality of what I define as longitiidi nals 22 are securedwithin these-slots. These longitudi mal conveyor-used for these glasseseither incorporates nals are flat strips resting on edge withinthe-slots- 20;

. 3 said strips or longitndinals being parallel one with the other, thusforming a fixed grid as shown in Figure 5..

The movable element 13 of the conveyor system consists of a pair ofangle channels 23 reversed with respect to the aforementioned anglechannels '16 and situated therebelow so that the horizontal flange 24thereof is just below the horizontal flange 18 of the angle channels 16.This angle channel 23 issupported by a plurality of strips 25 which inturn are supported by means hereinafter to be described.

Secured to the vertical flange 24 of the angle channels 23 and betweeneach pair of arched brackets 17, are further arched brackets 26, itbeing understood once again that these brackets 26 are transversed'pairs, one upon one side of the conveyor system and one upon the other.

A further set of transverse slotted bars 27 span corresponding pairs ofbrackets 26, these bars being 'inbetween adjacent pairs of theaforementioned bars 19, and substantially in the same plane therewith.These bars are also provided with open-ended slots 23 within theupperedges 29 thereof and within these slots is socured a further set oflongitudinals 39, these longitudinals being similar in all respects tothe aforementioned longitudinals 22. The last-mentioned longitudinalsare interspersed alternately between the first-mentioned longitudinals22 and reference to the bars 19 will show that further slots 26 areprovided in the bars 19 within which freelyrests the longitudinals 39.Also within bars 27 further slots 23 are' provided within which may restfreelythe afore-mentioned longitudinals 22, and it will be seen that theslots 20 and 23' are deeper than the slots 20 and 28 respectively, thepurpose of which will hereinafter become apparent.

The transverse bars 19 and 27, together with the longitudinals 22 and 36thus form the complete grid cable or conveyor for the movement ofglasses through the machine and it will have been appreciated that themovable element consisting of the bars 27 and longitudinals 30 (whichare integral) can be moved with relation to the fixed element whichconsists of the bars 19 and the longitudinals 22 (which also areintegral).

V The movement necessary to accomplish the moving of glasses consists offirst raising the movable element 13 to a plane slightly above that ofthe fixed element 14 and, while so raised, moving same forwardly by arelatively small amount whereupon the movable element is lowered to aplane slightly below the plane of the fixed element. The movable elementis then moved rearwardly while still below the plane of the fixedelement and then raised again to repeat the cycle. In other words, the

' glassesiare resting upon the fixed longitudinals 22, they are thenelevated by the elevation of the movable longitudinals 30, movedforwardly slightly while still supported by the movable longitudinals30, and then again being supported by the fixed longitudinals 22 whenthe movable element is lowered and returned rearwardly to its initialposition. In other words, the glasses progress 7 through the machine ina series of short regular movements, the conveyor taking the form of awalking table.

The aforementioned movements are derived from the aforementioned sourceof power 6 and will be dealt with separately, although it must beappreciated that the movements are synchronised so that the movableelement elevates while in the rearward position, and is then movedforwardly while still elevated whereupon it is lowered and then movedrearwardly.

Dealing first with the forward and rearward movement or reciprocation ofthe movable element, reference to Figme l will show a disc 31 upon theshaft 32 leading from the source of power. This disc has an eccentricpin 33 adjacent the perimeter thereof, which in turn supports one end ofa connecting rod 34. The opposite end 35 of the connecting rod ispivotally secured to a pitman 36 mounted medially along the lengththereof for rock- 7 movement upon shaft 45 which in turn is supported 7within bearings 37 supported a cross-member 38 within framework 1.

The upper end 39 of the pitman is pivotally connected to a furtherconnecting rod 40 which in turn is hooked over a bearing pin 41extendingfrom a plate 42 which in turn is secured to the aforementioned verticalflange 24' of the angle channel 23;

From the foregoing it will be seen that rotation of the disc 31 causesthe pitman 36 to rock backwards and for wards upon shaft '45, which inturn reciprocates the angle channel 23 to which is secured themovableelement.

The vertical movement of the movable element consists of a sprocketchain 43 extending from the-source of power to a sprocket wheel 44secured upon the pitman shaft 45. Reference to Figure 2 shows thedetails of this portion of the drive and it will be seen that a cam 45is also secured to shaft 45 and revolves therewith. This cam is providedwith araised profile for approximately 180 degrees and bears against aroller 47 jourcalled-for rotation medially along the length of a rockerarm '48 which in t-urnis pivotally secured at the lower end thereof to across-brace 49. From the foregoing; it will be appreciated that rotationof the cam 46 causes the rocker arm to reciprocate at the upper endthereof in the direction of a double-headed arrow 59'. A con-' nectingrod 51 extends from the upper end of the rocker arm 43 to a pin 52 whichis part of the raising and loweringmechanism of the movableelement'hereinafter to be described.

Two pairs of swinging links 53 and 53' are suspended for pivotalmovement from bearings 54 secured to the underside of the fixedframework 55 as clearly illustrated in Figures 6 and 9. Transverseconnecting rods 56 extend across the machine under the conveyor andlongitudinal connecting rods 57 connect the forward and rear links 53and 53' so that a swinging parallelogram is formed by the four links 53and 53', the transverse connecting rods 56 and the longitudinalconnecting rods 57.

Between the point of pivotal support provided by hearings 54, and thelower ends 58 of the links, is a roller supporting pin 59, supportingupon its inbored end a roller 60, it being understood that each of theswinging links 53 and 53' is provided with a roller assembly similar.The rollers 60 support the aforementioned strips 25 of the movingelement of the conveyor and are positioned so that when the swinginglinks are in the vertical position shown in Figures 6 and 9, thelongitudinals 30 of'the movable element are in a slightly lower planethan the sixth longitudinal 22. Conversely, when the links take uptheposition shown in Figure l, as occasioned by the reciprocation of therocker arm 48, the rollers 60 describe a short are and raises the entiremovable element to plane slightly above that of the fixed element. Inthis connection it will be appreciated upon reference to Figure 2 thatthe connecting rod 51 is connected by means of pin 52 to the lower endof one of the swinging links 53.

The sequence of movement then is as follows. With the swinging links inthe vertical position shown in Figures 6 and 9, the moving element inits rearmost position and glasses may be supported upon the longitudinal22 of the fixed element. The swinging links arenext moved pivotally totake up the position shown in Figure l and 2, thus raising the movablelongitudinal to a plane above that of the fixed longitudinal whichtherefore raises the glasses clear of the fixed longitudinals. While inthis.

position, thus lowering the movable longitudinals to a a planebelow'that of the fixed longitudinals and depositing the glasses uponthe fixed longitudinals. At this point the movable element is movedrearwardly ,to again repeat the s le and urge the glassestorwudly oncemore.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that there is no part of theconveyor assembly which may catch the edges of the glasses as they arealways supported upon the longitudinals of the fixed or movableelements. In this connection reference should be made to the relativelydeep slots 20 and 28 which prevents this change of plane of the fixedand movable elements to take place.

In conclusion, if the glasses are piled in the forward collection area11 of the conveyor system so that no more glasses can be movedforwardly, then the movable longitudinals 39 merely slip along the lipsof the glasses Without damage occurring thereto.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabovedescribed, and many apparently Widely different embodiments of same madeWithin the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from suchspirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in theaccompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only andnot in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

In a Walking beam conveyor structure, the combination of a stationaryunit comprising a pair of spaced parallel horizontally disposed anglerails having vertical flanges fixed to a supporting frame, pairs ofinverted U-shaped brackets provided on one leg thereof with lateralprojections secured in opposing relation at longitudinally spaced pointsto horizontal flanges of said rails, a set of transverse bars extendingbetween and secured to the other leg of the brackets in each pair, saidtransverse bars being provided with sets of longitudinally aligned andtransversely spaced slots extending downwardly from their upper edges,and a set of longitudinal bars secured in alternate slots of saidtransverse bars, a movable unit comprising a second pair of angle railsdisposed in spaced relation under the first mentioned rails, pairs ofinverted U-shaped brackets secured by one leg thereof in opposingrelation at longitudinally spaced points to vertical flanges of thesecond rails, a second set of transverse bars extending between andsecured to the other leg of the second mentioned brackets in each pair,said second transverse bars being provided with sets of longitudinallyaiigned and transversely spaced slots extending downwardly from theirupper edges, and a second set of longitudinal bars secured in alternateslots of the second transverse bars, the longitudinal bars of saidmovable unit being slidable in slots between the longitudinal bars ofthe stationary unit, the slots between the longitudinal bars of themovable unit slidably receiving therein the longitudinal bars of thestationary unit, means for reciprocating the movable unit, a set ofrollers supportably engaging horizontal flanges of said second mentionedangle rails, and means for raising and lowering said rollers, wherebythe movable unit may be raised and lowered relative to the stationaryunit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS894,424 Converse July 28, 1908 1,000,828 Lorillard Aug. 15, 19112,580,114 Marvin et al Dec. 25, 1951

